Full Power Tailgate Issue

[crazywayne311]

Sooo had this happen for the second time this morning.

Power lowered my tail gate down to load up my electrical tools for work. Normally, i put the tailgate up on my own instead of the power close.

This morning, i get in the cab after a remote start, and noticed after pushing the start button an alert saying tailgate ajar on my instrument cluster.
I push the tailgate button and BANG BOOM SLAM! Tailgate goes from closed to just straight dropped!

i'm guessing the motor never reengaged after i put it up yesterday? before people ask, there was nothing obstructing the tail gate from closing either. this is now the second time in past couple months i've gone to open it and its just slammed open.

anyone else running into a similar issue?

thanks!

Sponsored

 

[Buyer2021]

Haven't encountered that one but I very rarely over-ride by manually closing (think I've done it twice out of already hundreds of operations).

Perhaps the 'message' you're getting is that the full-power tailgate is happiest when used in power mode both opening and closing?

reminded of the ancient vaudeville gag ....
Patient: "Doctor, it hurts when I do This"
Doctor: "Then don't do That!"

 

[My 2ND Ford]

Sooo had this happen for the second time this morning.

Power lowered my tail gate down to load up my electrical tools for work. Normally, i put the tailgate up on my own instead of the power close.

This morning, i get in the cab after a remote start, and noticed after pushing the start button an alert saying tailgate ajar on my instrument cluster.
I push the tailgate button and BANG BOOM SLAM! Tailgate goes from closed to just straight dropped!

i'm guessing the motor never reengaged after i put it up yesterday? before people ask, there was nothing obstructing the tail gate from closing either. this is now the second time in past couple months i've gone to open it and its just slammed open.

anyone else running into a similar issue?

thanks!

I have had this happen to me a few times. I attributed it to not using the truck on a regular basis and allowing the battery to run down. Enough power to unlatch the tailgate, but not enough to power it down. Quite scary when quite a few pounds drops like that. I have also closed it manually quite a few times, so I can't say that was your problem. I never had a tailgate ajar alert other when the tailgate was actually open.

 

[Snakebitten]

I have noticed two different "feedbacks" when manually lifting/closing the powered tailgate.

If I doing it smoothly/slowly up to about 70% closed, I can tell that the motor engages and I allow it to finish closing/latching itself. It feels proper and sure.

If I close it a bit quicker, it might not engage the motor and the closing and latching feels different. It's not something that feels bad, but it doesn't feel like there's any resistance or connectivity to a powered geartrain.

I wonder if that leaves the tailgate in a condition that would allow it to just drop unaided by motor resistance?

 

[Eskram]

Hmm. This reminds me of an issue the other day - I stopped to get propane and left the tailgate down for ~10min while they were refilling.

After loading the tanks back in the bed, I did the normal 'lift it partially and let the motor take over trick' but it just slammed back down. I tried again and same thing. I manually closed it and it's been working fine since, but I wonder if there's some sort of timeout if it's left open for x amount of time?

 

[Snakebitten]

Good point.
Looks like you are presenting some experiment parameters.

I might oblige out of personal interest.

 

[crazywayne311]

Haven't encountered that one but I very rarely over-ride by manually closing (think I've done it twice out of already hundreds of operations).

Perhaps the 'message' you're getting is that the full-power tailgate is happiest when used in power mode both opening and closing?

reminded of the ancient vaudeville gag ....
Patient: "Doctor, it hurts when I do This"
Doctor: "Then don't do That!"

you got a point. maybe i should let the power close do its thing but its not like the tail gate is heavy i'm just so used to shutting it myself.

I have had this happen to me a few times. I attributed it to not using the truck on a regular basis and allowing the battery to run down. Enough power to unlatch the tailgate, but not enough to power it down. Quite scary when quite a few pounds drops like that. I have also closed it manually quite a few times, so I can't say that was your problem. I never had a tailgate ajar alert other when the tailgate was actually open.

i'm not saying it could be a battery issue but the truck was running. after it slammed down, i was able to allow the powered assist to close it and latch as well.

Hmm. This reminds me of an issue the other day - I stopped to get propane and left the tailgate down for ~10min while they were refilling.

After loading the tanks back in the bed, I did the normal 'lift it partially and let the motor take over trick' but it just slammed back down. I tried again and same thing. I manually closed it and it's been working fine since, but I wonder if there's some sort of timeout if it's left open for x amount of time?

now this is interesting.
earlier in the day, i dropped the tail gate to load up some stuff and to sit on while the kiddos rode their bikes.

i ended up leaving it down almost all day.
then after loading up my electrical tools, i manually shut it. sooo i'm wondering if it is tied to how long the tail gate is down. maybe it disengages incase it thinks its down for some reason to keep from damaging the motor?

 

[powerboatr]

on the band wagon
i have found if i CLOSE it manually..it will do weird things when i switch it to open.

getting propane last time with 3 bottles, i closed it ,so i could run in and pay, hoping nobody would swipe them. when i got home i pressed switch in cab and it did the let me find my way then truck jumped like it had dropped and tailgate was open, i did not witness it falling ,only feeling the truck bounce like it had dropped open..i used to accidentally pop my super duty one all the time and it felt like that

when i was done i used key fob and it closed as normal
it may be like the power mirrors if you manually fold them it takes the little drive gear out of normal placement so it has to be run electrically to put everything back in line


i have also had to DOUBLE click and nothing happens, then use switch on dash to get tailgate to open
afterwards the key fob works as normal.

imo the power tailgate thing is weird waste of dollars,
i liked the key fob and it lowered down to the open with smooth drop.

 

[Eskram]

I just entertained my neighbors again by going outside to play with my truck, again..

The first time I tried the keyfob, it beeped like it was going to lower, but nothing happened. I pressed the button on the tailgate itself and it worked as expected. Fob to raise worked, and another fob press to lower/raise afterwards worked. So, whatever that means. ?‍

I've also learned now that the truck will get OTA updates when one goes to get beer, and the tailgate acts funny when you get propane. ?

 

[powerboatr]

I just entertained my neighbors again by going outside to play with my truck, again..

The first time I tried the keyfob, it beeped like it was going to lower, but nothing happened. I pressed the button on the tailgate itself and it worked as expected. Fob to raise worked, and another fob press to lower/raise afterwards worked. So, whatever that means. ?‍

I've also learned now that the truck will get OTA updates when one goes to get beer, and the tailgate acts funny when you get propane. ?

i get the NO FOB workie more often than not, even tailgate button makes the beep beep but no bueno
then the dash switch tells it to behave
i am wondering if it has to have something related to doors locked or not?

beer could be a casual factor as it should OPEN normal to load the beverages?

 

[Snakebitten]

I don't remember when the power tailgate functionality was altered by an update, but at some point I do sometimes have to issue the FOB command twice.

I haven't experienced a total failure yet.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Sooo had this happen for the second time this morning.

Power lowered my tail gate down to load up my electrical tools for work. Normally, i put the tailgate up on my own instead of the power close.

This morning, i get in the cab after a remote start, and noticed after pushing the start button an alert saying tailgate ajar on my instrument cluster.
I push the tailgate button and BANG BOOM SLAM! Tailgate goes from closed to just straight dropped!

i'm guessing the motor never reengaged after i put it up yesterday? before people ask, there was nothing obstructing the tail gate from closing either. this is now the second time in past couple months i've gone to open it and its just slammed open.

anyone else running into a similar issue?

thanks!

Hi there, I'd be happy to look into your F-150 concerns on my end. Will you send us a message with your VIN and dealership info? I can look into things on my end.

 

[bfastr]

I find that if the truck sits unlocked for a long time. it takes two hits on the tailgate button. first time it just beeps, second it moves. I just figure its a function of the system being asleep.
to me its not a big deal, I have just gotten used to it.

I did have the tailgate drop like a rock once. again, I think I had the truck unlocked and I may have manually closed the gate, cant remember, but it was odd.

The power gate is a gimmick for sure, I use it to impress my friends.

it has taught me to be a little more patient in opening or closing the tailgate as I try to just let it do its thing.

 

[Buyer2021]

imo the power tailgate thing is weird waste of dollars,

The power gate is a gimmick for sure, I use it to impress my friends.

I have one task where the full power tailgate is actually useful ...

My 5th wheel trailer does not 'clear' the lowered tailgate when coupled to the truck, so the gate must be lowered & raised during the hitchup process (and vice versa when unhitching). I'm a solo traveler so that meant getting in and out of the cab to work the tailgate mid-hitching with my '05 XLT. With the '22 Lariat I use the in-cab tailgate button while hitching and I appreciate the saved steps.

But yeah, other than that I don't have any real appreciation for the feature.

 

[powerboatr]

i do know if i sit on the tailgate when its down....it will not lift me up ?

Sponsored